American Indians Take Issue With Violence Against Women Act

Members of the Muscogee Creek Nation ran 36 miles to U.S. Rep. John Sullivan's office, to challenge a bill they say fails to protect American Indian women.

The Senate and House recently passed separate versions of a bill that makes changes to the Violence Against Women Act.

The Senate included provisions protecting female tribal members, but the House didn't.

So today, tribal members ran a relay from Okmulgee, to Sullivan's office to rally for renegotiations on that bill.

"For us not to do anything is just, again, allowing …one more woman to be a victim of domestic violence. That's not going to be tolerated and we have to let Congress know that each and every day," tribal member Cherrah Ridge said.

The tribe said the House's bill takes a step backward in protecting some of the women who need it the most.